WO2021261011A1

WO2021261011A1 - Article transport facility

Info

Publication number: WO2021261011A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/006629
Authority: WO
Inventors: 清川渉
Original assignee: 株式会社ダイフク
Priority date: 2020-06-23
Filing date: 2021-02-22
Publication date: 2021-12-30
Also published as: KR20230026391A; AU2021294959A1; CN115697865A; EP4169855A4; JP7268645B2; EP4169855A1; JP2022002990A; US20230257211A1

Abstract

An intermediate guidance part (13) is disposed in a conveyance-direction (X) region that is between a first conveyance part (11) and a second conveyance part (12) in the width direction and includes a junction (J) with a supporting conveyance device (2) of a conveyor device (1), and is configured so as to guide a bottom surface intermediate portion, which is a portion between a bottom surface first portion and a bottom surface second portion, in the width direction, of a bottom surface (90). An intermediate guidance surface (13F), of the intermediate guidance part (13), for guiding the bottom surface intermediate portion is disposed on a reference plane (SF) at the junction (J) and inclines downward away from the junction (J).

Description

Goods transport equipment (ARTICLE TRANSPORT FACILITY)

The present invention relates to an article transport facility, and more particularly to an article transport facility that transports an article in a state of being supported from below.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-022560 (Patent Document 1) discloses an article transporting device provided with a conveyor device for transporting an article while supporting it from below. Hereinafter, the reference numerals given in parentheses in the description of the background art are those of Patent Document 1.

The conveyor device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes three chain conveyors (10a, 10b, 10c) arranged side by side along the transport direction in which articles are transported. Each of the three chain conveyors (10a, 10b, 10c) comprises a pair of side frames (11) arranged spaced apart in the width direction, with articles on each of the pair of side frames (11). A chain (19) that supports and conveys from below is provided. The article conveyed by the conveyor device is supported from below by a chain (19) at both ends in the width direction on the bottom surface. The intermediate portion in the width direction on the bottom surface of the article is not supported by the chain (19) and is in a floating state. In such a state, the article conveyed by the conveyor device moves while moving between the three chain conveyors (10a, 10b, 10c).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-022560

By the way, in a state where only both end portions in the width direction on the bottom surface of the article are supported, the intermediate portion in the width direction on the bottom surface of the article bends downward to some extent due to the weight of the article or the load acting on the article. In particular, when the weight of the article itself is large or the load acting on the article is large, the deflection becomes large. In the technique of Patent Document 1, since all three chain conveyors (10a, 10b, 10c) are configured to support only both ends in the width direction on the bottom surface of the article, they are intermediate in the width direction on the bottom surface of the article as described above. Even when the portion is bent downward, the article can be smoothly transferred between the adjacent chain conveyors (10a, 10b, 10c) in that state. However, from such a chain conveyor (10a, 10b, 10c) to a transport device that supports the article in a state of higher flatness than the chain conveyor (10a, 10b, 10c), such as a roller conveyor, the article. When the article is moved to a conveyor that supports the entire width direction of the bottom surface from below, the bending of the bottom surface of the article may hinder the smooth transfer of the article.

In view of the above situation, in the article transporting equipment that transports the article while supporting it from below, the transport device that transports the article in a state where a part of the article bends downward and the transport device that supports the article in a state of high flatness. It is desired to realize a technology that can satisfactorily transfer goods to and from.

An article transport facility that transports the target article to be transported along the transport direction.
A conveyor device for transporting the target article and
It is provided with a support transport device which is arranged adjacent to the conveyor device in the transport direction and transports the target article while supporting the target article in a state where the flatness is higher than that of the conveyor device.
The width direction is defined as the direction orthogonal to the transport direction in a plan view.
The conveyor device includes a first transport section, a second transport section, and an intermediate guide section, each of which is arranged along the transport direction and is spaced apart from each other in the width direction. ,
The side where the first transport unit is arranged with respect to the second transport unit in the width direction is defined as the first side in the width direction, and the opposite side is defined as the second side in the width direction.
The first transport unit is configured to transport the target article in the transport direction with the bottom surface first portion, which is a part of the bottom surface of the target article in the width direction, supported from below.
The second transport unit transports the target article in the transport direction in a state where the bottom surface second portion, which is a portion on the width direction second side of the bottom surface first portion on the bottom surface, is supported from below. Configured,
The total length of the intermediate guide portion in the transport direction is shorter than the total length of both the first transport portion and the second transport portion in the transport direction.
The intermediate guide portion is arranged in a region in the transport direction between the first transport section and the second transport section in the width direction and includes a connection portion with the support transport device in the conveyor device. It is configured to guide the bottom intermediate portion, which is a portion of the bottom surface between the bottom surface first portion and the bottom surface second portion in the width direction.
The first support surface that supports the bottom surface first portion in the first transport section and the second support surface that supports the bottom surface second portion in the second transport section are arranged on the same reference plane.
The intermediate guide surface that guides the bottom intermediate portion of the intermediate guide portion is arranged on the reference plane at the connection portion, and tends to move downward from the reference plane as the distance from the connection portion increases in the transport direction. Is inclined to.

In the conveyor device provided with the first transport section and the second transport section as described above, the bottom surface of the target article is not supported by either the first support surface of the first transport section or the second support surface of the second transport section. The intermediate portion bends downward from the reference plane on which the first support surface and the second support surface are arranged, depending on the weight and strength of the target article. However, according to this configuration, the intermediate guide surface that guides such a bottom intermediate portion is inclined so as to move downward from the reference plane as it moves away from the connection portion with the support and transport device in the conveyor device in the transport direction. is doing. Therefore, when the target article moves on the conveyor device toward the support / transport device, the bottom intermediate portion of the target article comes into contact with the intermediate guide surface at a certain distance from the connection portion and approaches the connection portion. It is gradually pushed upward according to. This intermediate guide surface is arranged on the same reference plane as the first support surface and the second support surface at the connection portion. Therefore, when the target article passes through the connecting portion, the bending of the bottom intermediate portion is eliminated. Therefore, according to this configuration, in the article transporting equipment for transporting the target article while supporting it from below, the transport device for transporting the target article in a state where a part of the target article is bent downward and the target article in a state of high flatness. It is possible to satisfactorily transfer the target article to and from the transport device that supports the above.

Further, according to this configuration, the total length of the intermediate guide portion in the transport direction is shorter than the total length of both the first transport portion and the second transport portion in the transport direction. Therefore, the intermediate guide portion can be provided only in a part of the conveyor device provided with the first transport unit and the second transport unit in the transport direction. Therefore, for example, over the entire length of the conveyor device in the transport direction, between the width directions of the first transport section and the second transport section, a second transport section having the same configuration as those of the first transport section and the second transport section is provided. 3 It is easy to reduce the cost as compared with the configuration provided with the transport unit.

Further features and advantages of the techniques according to the present disclosure will be made clearer by the following illustration of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments described with reference to the drawings.

Top view showing a part of the goods transportation equipment Plan view showing the peripheral structure of the connection part Section III-III sectional view in FIG. IV-IV arrow view in FIG. Width direction view showing the first transport section or the second transport section Width direction view showing the intermediate guide section Operation diagram of the target article being transported Top view showing the article transporting equipment which concerns on other embodiments In other embodiments, a widthwise view showing an intermediate guide portion.

The embodiment of the goods transport facility will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the article transport facility 100 transports the target article 9 to be transported along the transport direction X.

In the following, the direction in which the target article 9 is conveyed is defined as the transport direction X, and the direction orthogonal to the transport direction X in a plan view is defined as the width direction Y. Then, one side in the width direction Y is the first side Y1 in the width direction, and the other side is the second side Y2 in the width direction.

The target article 9 is, for example, a pallet or a container containing a product to be picked or sorted, or a pallet or a container containing a work-in-process or a finished product of a product. In the present embodiment, the target article 9 is a pallet. Although detailed illustration is omitted, a plurality of products are placed on the pallet as the target article 9. The target article 9 is conveyed with its bottom surface 90 supported. In the following, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a part of the width direction Y on the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 is referred to as the bottom surface first portion 91, and the width direction second side Y2 from the bottom surface first portion 91 on the bottom surface 90. Is the bottom surface second portion 92, and the portion between the bottom surface first portion 91 and the bottom surface second portion 92 in the width direction Y on the bottom surface 90 is the bottom surface intermediate portion 93.

As shown in FIG. 1, the article transport facility 100 is arranged adjacent to the conveyor device 1 for transporting the target article 9 and the conveyor device 1 in the transport direction X, and has a higher flatness than the conveyor device 1. It is provided with a support transport device 2 for transporting the target article 9 while supporting it.

Here, the "flatness" represents the magnitude of the deviation of the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 with respect to the geometrically correct plane. The "state with high flatness" is a state in which the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 is closer to a geometrically correct plane than the comparison target. Therefore, in the article transport facility 100, the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 in the state of being transported by the support transport device 2 is geometrically larger than the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 in the state of being transported by the conveyor device 1. It becomes a state close to the correct plane. In the "high flatness" state, the parallelism between the transport surface supporting the target article 9 and the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 during transport is also higher than in the low flatness state.

The support transport device 2 transports the target article 9 with the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 supported from below. In the present embodiment, the support transfer device 2 is a roller conveyor. The support transfer device 2 includes a roller 21 that supports the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9, a support frame 20 that supports the roller 21, and a drive device (not shown) that rotationally drives the roller 21. Specifically, the support transport device 2 includes a plurality of rollers 21 arranged side by side in the transport direction X. The plurality of rollers 21 are arranged over the entire area of the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 in the width direction Y, and are configured to rotate around the rotation axis center along the width direction Y. Here, the rotation axes of the plurality of rollers 21 are arranged in one reference plane. Further, each outer peripheral surface of the plurality of rollers 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the same radius over the entire area in the width direction Y. As a result, the virtual transport surface formed by connecting the upper ends of the plurality of rollers 21 has a shape close to a plane parallel to the reference plane. Therefore, as compared with the conveyor device 1 described later, the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9 can be conveyed while being supported in a state of high flatness.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the support / transport device 2 is provided in the work area WA where the work on the target article 9 is performed. In this example, "work on the target article 9" means various operations performed on a plurality of products on the pallet (target article 9).

In the present embodiment, the work area WA includes an inspection work unit WA1 in which product inspection work is performed, and a picking work unit WA2 in which product picking work is performed. It should be noted that these working units are merely an example, and the working area WA may include a working unit in which work other than inspection work and picking work is performed.

In the inspection work unit WA1, an inspection photographing device C1 that captures an image of the target article 9 supported by the support transport device 2 from above is arranged. In other words, the inspection work unit WA1 is configured to perform image recognition processing of the product on the pallet (target article 9) by the inspection photographing apparatus C1. In the image recognition process, the type, number, arrangement state, presence or absence of damage, etc. of the products on the pallet (target article 9) are recognized.

In the present embodiment, the inspection work unit WA1 is configured so that the worker M also inspects the target article 9. Specifically, the worker M performs inspection work such as inspection and confirmation of the product on the pallet (target article 9). For example, the worker M confirms the inspection result by the image recognition process of the inspection photographing apparatus C1 on the downstream side of the transport direction X from the inspection photographing apparatus C1. That is, in this case, the worker M additionally confirms the type and number of products on the pallet (target article 9), the arrangement state, the presence or absence of damage, and the like.

A robot R that performs picking work on the target article 9 is arranged in the picking work unit WA2. In other words, the picking work unit WA2 is configured to perform picking work of the product on the pallet (target article 9) by the robot R. In the present embodiment, the picking work unit WA2 is further arranged with a picking photographing device C2 for performing image recognition processing of the product to be picked by the robot R. The picking photographing apparatus C2 is configured to perform image recognition processing of the product on the pallet (target article 9) from above the area where the picking work by the robot R is performed. In this image recognition process, the type, number, arrangement state, and the like of products on the pallet (target article 9) are recognized. Then, in the picking operation, the robot R picks the product from the pallet (target article 9) based on the image recognition result of the product by the picking photographing device C2 and the picking information. The picking information is set based on, for example, the product type, the shipping destination, and the like.

In the illustrated example, the robot R is arranged adjacent to the support and transport device 2 in the width direction Y. The robot R is configured to operate an arm based on the arrangement of products on a pallet (target article 9) recognized from an image taken by the picking photographing device C2, and perform picking work on the target article 9 from above. Has been done. At this time, as described above, since the support transport device 2 is configured to transport the target article 9 while supporting it in a state of high flatness, the product on the pallet (target article 9) is transported during the picking operation. The inclination of the can be suppressed to a small extent. Therefore, it is easy to perform highly accurate picking work on the product on such a pallet (target article 9).

Further, in the illustrated example, the inspection imaging device C1 and the picking imaging device C2 are arranged above the support transport device 2 and are configured to image the target article 9 with the support transport device 2 as a background. There is. Here, when the flatness of the pallet (target article 9) is low during the image recognition processing by the inspection photographing device C1 and the picking photographing device C2, the product on the pallet is tilted or distorted. May reduce the accuracy of the image recognition process. However, as described above, since the support / transport device 2 can support and transport the target article 9 in a state of high flatness, it is possible to perform highly accurate image recognition processing on the target article 9. If the reflection of light by the roller 21 is reflected in the image of the inspection photographing device C1 or the picking photographing device C2, and the accuracy of the image recognition processing may be lowered, such light may be used. The support transfer device 2 may be configured by using a roller 21 having a surface on which reflection or the like is unlikely to occur, or by using a belt conveyor using a belt instead of the roller 21.

The conveyor device 1 has a different configuration from the support / transfer device 2. The conveyor device 1 conveys the target article 9 with both the bottom surface first portion 91 and the bottom surface second portion 92 of the target article 9 supported from below (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor device 1 is arranged adjacent to the support transport device 2 in the transport direction X. The conveyor device 1 includes a connection portion J for connecting to the support and transfer device 2. Specifically, the connection portion J and the support transfer device 2 are arranged with a small gap in the transfer direction X. When the target article 9 is conveyed from the conveyor device 1 to the support transfer device 2, the target article 9 passes through the connection portion J of the conveyor device 1 and is delivered from the conveyor device 1 to the support transfer device 2. After that, the target article 9 is transported to a place where each work on the target article 9 is performed as described above. In the article transport facility 100, contrary to the above, it is also possible to transport the target article 9 from the support transport device 2 to the conveyor device 1. In that case, the target article 9 is delivered from the support transport device 2 to the connection portion J of the conveyor device 1.

As described above, the article transport facility 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to be capable of transporting the target article 9 toward each of both sides in the transport direction X. However, the configuration described below assumes the case where the target article 9 is transported from the conveyor device 1 to the support transport device 2. Therefore, in the following, "transporting the target article 9 in the transport direction X" means transporting the target article 9 from the side of the conveyor device 1 to the side of the support transport device 2 in the transport direction X. And.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor devices 1 are arranged along the transport direction X and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction Y, the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12. And an intermediate guide unit 13. The “first side Y1 in the width direction” defined above is the side on which the first transport unit 11 is arranged with respect to the second transport unit 12 in the width direction Y. The "second side Y2 in the width direction" is the opposite side. That is, here, the side where the first transport unit 11 is arranged is the first side Y1 in the width direction with respect to the second transport unit 12 in the width direction Y, and the opposite side is the second side Y2 in the width direction.

The first transport unit 11 is configured to transport the target article 9 in the transport direction X with the bottom surface first portion 91 of the target article 9 supported from below. The second transport unit 12 is configured to transport the target article 9 in the transport direction X with the bottom surface second portion 92 of the target article 9 supported from below.

In the present embodiment, each of the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 is a chain conveyor. Specifically, the first transport unit 11 includes a pair of first sprockets 111 (an example of a rotating body) which are arranged apart from each other in the transport direction X and rotate around a rotation axis center along the width direction Y. A first chain 112 (an example of an endless body) wound around the pair of first sprockets 111 and arranged along the transport direction X is provided. The first chain 112 forms a first support surface 11F that supports the bottom surface first portion 91 of the target article 9 from below. Similarly, the second transport unit 12 includes a pair of second sprockets 121 (an example of a rotating body) which are arranged apart from each other in the transport direction X and rotate around the rotation axis center along the width direction Y. It includes a second chain 122 (an example of an endless body) wound around a pair of second sprockets 121 and arranged along a transport direction X. The second chain 122 forms a second support surface 12F that supports the bottom surface second portion 92 of the target article 9 from below. The first support surface 11F of the first chain 112 and the second support surface 12F of the second chain 122 actually include unevenness caused by the unevenness of the chain, but here, in the extending direction of the chain. It is defined as an ideal surface with no irregularities formed along it.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the first transport unit 11 includes a first support frame 110. The first support frame 110 supports a pair of first sprockets 111 and a first chain 112 wound around them. In the present embodiment, the first support frame 110 supports a pair of first sprockets 111 arranged apart from each other in the transport direction X at the same height. Then, in this example, the first support frame 110 supports the first chain 112 along the transport direction X so that each portion of the transport direction X on the first support surface 11F has the same height. The first support surface 11F is formed linearly in the width direction Y view.

In the present embodiment, the first transport unit 11 transports a set including the first support frame 110, the first sprocket 111 supported by the first support frame 110, and the first chain 112. A plurality of them are provided along the direction X (see also FIG. 1). In other words, a plurality of first support frames 110 that support the first sprocket 111 and the first chain 112 are arranged along the transport direction X.

In the present embodiment, the second transport unit 12 includes a second support frame 120. The second support frame 120 supports a pair of second sprockets 121 and a second chain 122 wound around them. In the present embodiment, the second support frame 120 supports a pair of second sprockets 121 arranged apart from each other in the transport direction X at the same height. Then, in this example, the second support frame 120 supports the second chain 122 along the transport direction X so that each portion of the transport direction X on the second support surface 12F has the same height. The second support surface 12F is formed linearly in the width direction Y view.

In the present embodiment, the second transport unit 12 transports a set including the second support frame 120, the second sprocket 121 supported by the second support frame 120, and the second chain 122. A plurality of them are provided along the direction X (see also FIG. 1). In other words, a plurality of second support frames 120 that support the second sprocket 121 and the second chain 122 are arranged along the transport direction X.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first support surface 11F that supports the bottom surface first portion 91 in the first transport unit 11 and the second support surface 12F that supports the bottom surface second portion 92 in the second transport unit 12. Is arranged on the same reference plane SF. The reference plane SF is a virtual plane, and in the present embodiment, it is arranged along the horizontal direction in the transport direction view along the transport direction X. Therefore, the first support surface 11F and the second support surface 12F are arranged at the same height. Further, in this example, the reference plane SF is arranged so as to be along the horizontal direction even when viewed in the width direction along the width direction Y. Therefore, the first support surface 11F and the second support surface 12F are arranged at the same height in the entire range of the transport direction X.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the intermediate guide unit 13 is arranged between the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 in the width direction Y. In the present embodiment, the intermediate guide portion 13 is arranged at the center position of the separation distance between the first transport portion 11 and the second transport portion 12 in the width direction Y. In other words, in the width direction Y, the separation distance between the intermediate guide unit 13 and the first transport unit 11 is equal to the separation distance between the intermediate guide unit 13 and the second transport unit 12. The intermediate guide portion 13 is configured to guide the bottom intermediate portion 93, which is a portion between the bottom surface first portion 91 and the bottom surface second portion 92 in the width direction Y on the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate guide portion 13 is arranged in the region of the transport direction X including the connection portion J with the support transport device 2 in the conveyor device 1. In the following, in the conveyor device 1, the region in the transport direction X where the intermediate guide portion 13 is arranged is referred to as the connection side region JA, and the region farther from the connection portion J than the connection side region JA is referred to as the separation side region FA. In the present embodiment, the intermediate guide portion 13 is arranged only in the connection side region JA, and is not arranged in the separation side region FA. On the other hand, the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 are arranged in both the connection side region JA and the separation side region FA. Therefore, the total length of the intermediate guide portion 13 in the transport direction X is shorter than the total length of the transport direction X of both the first transport portion 11 and the second transport portion 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the present embodiment, the intermediate guide portion 13 is configured to transport the target article 9 in the transport direction X with the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 supported from below. In this example, the intermediate guide portion 13 is a chain conveyor. Specifically, the intermediate guide portion 13 is a pair of intermediate sprockets 131 (an example of a rotating body) which are arranged apart from each other in the transport direction X and rotate around the center of rotation along the width direction Y, and a pair thereof. The intermediate chain 132 (an example of an endless body) wound around the intermediate sprocket 131 and arranged along the transport direction X is provided. The intermediate chain 132 forms an intermediate guide surface 13F that guides the bottom intermediate portion 93 of the target article 9. At least a part of the intermediate guide surface 13F comes into contact with the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 from below.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the intermediate guide portion 13 includes an intermediate support frame 130. The intermediate support frame 130 supports a pair of intermediate sprockets 131 and an intermediate chain 132 wound around them. The intermediate guide surface 13F in the intermediate guide portion 13 is inclined so as to move downward from the reference plane SF as the distance from the connection portion J in the transport direction X increases. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate guide surface 13F is arranged on the reference plane SF at the connection portion J. As described above, in the present embodiment, the reference plane SF is arranged along the horizontal direction in the width direction. The intermediate support frame 130 supports a pair of intermediate sprockets 131 arranged apart from each other in the transport direction X at different heights. Specifically, the intermediate support frame 130 makes the intermediate sprocket 131 arranged on the side of the connection portion J in the transport direction X of the pair of intermediate sprockets 131 higher than the other intermediate sprockets 131 arranged on the opposite side. Supporting in position. That is, the connection side end portion 132j, which is the end on the intermediate guide surface 13F on the side closest to the connection portion J in the transport direction X, is the separated side end portion which is the end on the farthest side from the connection portion J in the transport direction X. It is arranged at a position higher than 132f. Further, in the present embodiment, of the pair of intermediate sprockets 131, the intermediate sprocket 131 arranged on the side of the connecting portion J in the transport direction X is the first sprocket 111 and the second sprocket 121 arranged on the side of the connecting portion J. They are placed at the same height. As a result, the first support surface 11F of the first transport unit 11, the second support surface 12F of the second transport unit 12, and the intermediate guide surface 13F of the intermediate guide unit 13 are the same reference plane SF on the side of the connection unit J. It is placed on top. In this example, the intermediate guide surface 13F is formed linearly in the width direction Y view (see FIG. 6).

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, in the separated side region FA in which the intermediate guide portion 13 is not arranged, the bottom intermediate portion 93 in the target article 9 is the first support surface 11F and the second transport portion 12 of the first transport portion 11. It is not supported by any of the second support surfaces 12F of. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the reference plane SF on which the first support surface 11F and the second support surface 12F are arranged depends on the weight of the product on the target article 9 (pallet), the strength of the target article 9 (pallet), and the like. Below, the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 bends. However, in this conveyor device 1, as described above, the intermediate guide surface 13F for guiding the bottom intermediate portion 93 is separated from the reference plane SF from the connection portion J with the support and transfer device 2 in the conveyor device 1 in the transfer direction X. It is tilted downward toward the distance (see FIG. 6). Therefore, when the target article 9 moves on the conveyor device 1 toward the support / transport device 2, the bottom intermediate portion 93 of the target article 9 comes into contact with the intermediate guide surface 13F at a certain distance from the connection portion J. do. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 of the target article 9 is gradually pressed upward as it is conveyed to the side of the connecting portion J. As described above, the intermediate guide surface 13F is arranged on the same reference plane SF as the first support surface 11F and the second support surface 12F at the connection portion J. Therefore, when the target article 9 passes through the connecting portion J, the bending of the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 is eliminated as shown in the lower figure of FIG. 7. Therefore, the transfer of the target article 9 between the conveyor device 1 that conveys the target article 9 in a state of bending downward and the support transfer device 2 that supports the target article 9 in a state of high flatness. Can be done well.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the separated side end portion 132f on the intermediate guide surface 13F is supported by the first transport portion 11 and the second transport portion 12, and the bottom intermediate portion 93 is the bottom surface first portion 91 and the bottom surface first portion 91. It is arranged below the bottom intermediate portion 93 of the target article 9 in a state of being bent downward with respect to the bottom second portion 92. As a result, the target article 9 is conveyed toward the side of the support transfer device 2 to the portion on the connection portion J side of the intermediate guide surface 13F on the separation side end portion 132f, that is, the portion of the inclined surface on the intermediate guide surface 13F. The bottom middle portion 93 of the bottom contact first. Therefore, the bottom intermediate portion 93 of the target article 9 in a downwardly bent state can be appropriately guided. In the present embodiment, the position (height) of the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 is calculated based on the maximum amount of deflection of the target article 9 when the assumed maximum load acts on the target article 9, and the position of the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 is calculated. Below, the separated side end 132f on the intermediate guide surface 13F is arranged. In this example, the state in which the heaviest expected product is placed on the target article 9 (pallet) is assumed to be the state of maximum load.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the present embodiment, the conveyor device 1 includes a drive device 14 for driving the first transport unit 11, the second transport unit 12, and the intermediate guide unit 13. The drive device 14 drives the first transport unit 11, the second transport unit 12, and the intermediate guide unit 13 so that they are synchronized with each other.

In the present embodiment, the drive device 14 is a rotating body arranged at the end of each of the first transport unit 11, the second transport unit 12, and the intermediate guide unit 13 on the connection portion J side, that is, the first sprocket in this example. It includes a connecting shaft 140 that coaxially connects the 111, the second sprocket 121, and the intermediate sprocket 131 to each other, and a driving unit 14m that rotationally drives the connecting shaft 140.

The connecting shaft 140 is provided so as to penetrate the first sprocket 111, the second sprocket 121, and the intermediate sprocket 131 arranged so as to overlap each other in the width direction Y at the same height, respectively. ing. Each of the first sprocket 111, the second sprocket 121, and the intermediate sprocket 131 is fixed to the connecting shaft 140 so as to rotate integrally with the connecting shaft 140. Therefore, the connecting shaft 140 is rotationally driven by the drive unit 14 m, so that the first sprocket 111, the second sprocket 121, and the intermediate sprocket 131 rotate synchronously. In this example, the diameters of the first sprocket 111, the second sprocket 121, and the intermediate sprocket 131 are the same. Therefore, the

chains

112, 122, 132 wound around each of these

sprockets

111, 121, 131 are driven at the same speed by the rotation of the connecting shaft 140. The drive unit 14m includes, for example, an electric motor and a speed reducer that decelerates the rotation of the electric motor and transmits the rotation to the connecting shaft.

Here, as described above with reference to FIG. 1, the total length of the transport direction X of the intermediate guide portion 13 is formed to be shorter than the total length of the transport direction X of both the first transport portion 11 and the second transport portion 12. ing. The total length of the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 in the transport direction X here is the case where a plurality of the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 are arranged side by side along the transport direction X. Is the total length of the transport direction X in which the plurality of first transport sections 11 and the second transport section 12 are combined. By making the total length of the intermediate guide unit 13 in the transport direction X shorter than the total length of the transport direction X of the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12, the cost of the article transport equipment 100 is reduced. Can be done. That is, over the entire length of the conveyor device 1 provided with the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 in the transport direction X, between the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 in the width direction Y. In the case of a configuration (so-called three-row conveyor) including a third transport unit (not shown) having the same configuration as the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12, the configuration and size of the third conveyor unit. Is equivalent to the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12. However, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, such a third transport unit is not required, and the intermediate guide portion 13 may be arranged only in a part of the transport direction X. Therefore, such a third transport unit is provided. Compared with the case, it is easy to reduce the cost.

In addition to this, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor device 1 is arranged in the connection side region JA, and the first transport unit 11, the second transport unit 12, and the intermediate guide unit 13 are connected to each other. The connection side unit JU and the separation side unit FU arranged in the separation side region FA and to which the first transfer unit 11 and the second transfer unit 12 are connected are configured to be separable. The separated side unit FU does not include the intermediate guide portion 13. According to this configuration, an existing conveyor unit without an intermediate guide portion 13 can be used as the separation side unit FU. The existing conveyor unit here is a conveyor unit that includes a first conveyor unit 11 and a second conveyor unit 12 and does not include an intermediate guide unit 13. By doing so, the above-mentioned conveyor device 1 can be replaced by simply replacing a part of the conveyor device configured by arranging the existing conveyor units in the transport direction X with the connection side unit JU provided with the intermediate guide unit 13. It can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to realize an article transfer facility 100 capable of satisfactorily transferring the target article 9 from the conveyor device 1 to the support transfer device 2 at a relatively low cost.

According to the article transporting equipment 100 described above, between the conveyor device 1 that transports the target article 9 in a state of bending downward and the support transport device 2 that supports the target article 9 in a state of high flatness. The transfer of the target article 9 in the above can be performed satisfactorily. Further, since the total length of the intermediate guide unit 13 in the transport direction X is shorter than the total length of the transport directions X of both the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12, the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 The intermediate guide portion 13 may be provided only in a part of the transport direction X of the conveyor device 1 provided with the portion 12. Therefore, for example, as described above, over the entire length of the conveyor device 1 in the transport direction X, between the first transport section 11 and the second transport section 12 in the width direction Y, the first transport section 11 and the second transport section 11 and the second transport section 12. Compared with the case where the third transport unit having the same configuration as the transport unit 12 is provided, the configuration is such that the cost can be easily reduced.

[Other embodiments]
Next, other embodiments of the article transport facility will be described.

(1) In the above embodiment, the conveyor device 1 is a connection-side unit JU in which a first conveyor 11, a second conveyor 12, and an intermediate guide 13 are connected, and a first conveyor 11 and a second conveyor. An example has been described in which the separated side unit FU to which the portion 12 is connected and the separated side unit FU are configured to be separable. However, without being limited to such an example, the conveyor device 1 may have an integral configuration that is not divided in the transport direction X. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the conveyor device 1 may be configured to include a first transport section 11 and a second transport section 12 that are continuously configured over the entire range of the transport direction X. Also in this case, similarly to the above embodiment, the intermediate guide unit 13 is arranged in a part of the region of the transport direction X in the conveyor device 1, and the total length of the transport direction X of the intermediate guide unit 13 is the first transport unit 11. It is preferable that the second transport portion 12 is formed shorter than the total length of both transport directions X.

(2) In the above embodiment, an example in which the intermediate guide surface 13F is formed linearly in the width direction Y view has been described (see FIG. 6). However, without being limited to such an example, the intermediate guide surface 13F may be formed in a curved shape in the width direction Y view, as shown in FIG. 9, for example. Also in this case, similarly to the above embodiment, the intermediate guide surface 13F is arranged so as to be inclined so as to move downward from the reference plane SF as the distance from the connection portion J in the transport direction X increases. Therefore, for example, it is preferable that the intermediate guide surface 13F is formed in a curved shape that is convex upward. With such a configuration, the height of the separated side end portion 132f on the intermediate guide surface 13F can be sufficiently lowered, and the length of the intermediate guide portion 13 in the transport direction X can be kept short.

(3) In the above embodiment, the target article 9 in which the separated side end portion 132f on the intermediate guide surface 13F is in a state where the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 is bent downward with respect to the bottom surface first portion 91 and the bottom surface second portion 92. An example of being arranged below the bottom middle portion 93 of the above was described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and the separated side end portion 132f on the intermediate guide surface 13F is arranged at the same height as the bottom surface intermediate portion 93 of the target article 9 in a state of being bent downward. May be.

(4) In the above embodiment, the drive device 14 has a first transport unit 11 and a second transport unit 12 by a connecting shaft 140 coaxially connecting the first sprocket 111, the second sprocket 121, and the intermediate sprocket 131. An example of driving the intermediate guide unit 13 in synchronization with the intermediate guide unit 13 has been described. However, without being limited to such an example, the drive device 14 may include a drive unit that separately drives the first transport unit 11, the second transport unit 12, and the intermediate guide unit 13. Alternatively, a drive unit that drives the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 in synchronization and a drive unit that drives the intermediate guide unit 13 may be separately provided.

(5) In the above embodiment, an example in which each of the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 is a chain conveyor has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and each of the first conveyor unit 11 and the second conveyor unit 12 may be a belt conveyor. In this case, the rotating body is a pulley and the endless body is a belt.

(6) In the above embodiment, an example in which the intermediate guide unit 13 is a chain conveyor has been described. However, the intermediate guide portion 13 may be a conveyor other than the chain conveyor, for example, a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor, without being limited to such an example. When the intermediate guide portion 13 is a belt conveyor, the rotating body is a pulley and the endless body is a belt. When the intermediate guide portion 13 is a roller conveyor, the intermediate guide portion 13 includes a plurality of rollers arranged side by side in the transport direction X and rotating around a rotation axis along the width direction Y. In this case, the plurality of rollers may have a transport function of being driven by a drive source such as an electric motor to apply a force to the target article 9 in the transport direction X, or have such a transport function. Instead, it may have only a guide function that rotates according to the sliding of the bottom surface 90 of the target article 9.
That is, the intermediate guide portion 13 may not be configured to convey the target article 9 in the transport direction X.

(7) In the above embodiment, an example in which the support transfer device 2 is a roller conveyor has been described. However, without being limited to such an example, the support / transport device 2 may be configured to support and transport the target article 9 in a state where the flatness is higher than that of the conveyor device 1. As long as the target article 9 is transported in this way, the support transport device 2 may be various conveyors such as a belt conveyor or a chain conveyor, or various conveyors such as an automatic guided vehicle or a stacker crane. Further, for example, the support transport device 2 is provided between the first transport section 11 and the second transport section 12 in the conveyor device 1 and between the first transport section 11 and the second transport section 12 in the width direction Y. It may be a configuration (so-called three-row conveyor) including a third transport unit (not shown) having the same configuration as the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12.

(8) The configuration disclosed in the above-described embodiment can be applied in combination with the configuration disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction. With respect to other configurations, the embodiments disclosed herein are merely exemplary in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be appropriately made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[Outline of the above embodiment]
Hereinafter, the article transport equipment described above will be described.

An article transport facility that transports the target article to be transported along the transport direction.
A conveyor device for transporting the target article and
It is provided with a support and transport device which is arranged adjacent to the conveyor device in the transport direction and transports the target article while supporting it in a state where the flatness is higher than that of the conveyor device.
The width direction is defined as the direction orthogonal to the transport direction in a plan view.
The conveyor device includes a first transport section, a second transport section, and an intermediate guide section, each of which is arranged along the transport direction and is spaced apart from each other in the width direction. ,
The side where the first transport unit is arranged with respect to the second transport unit in the width direction is defined as the first side in the width direction, and the opposite side is defined as the second side in the width direction.
The first transport unit is configured to transport the target article in the transport direction with the bottom surface first portion, which is a part of the bottom surface of the target article in the width direction, supported from below.
The second transport unit transports the target article in the transport direction in a state where the bottom surface second portion, which is a portion on the width direction second side of the bottom surface first portion on the bottom surface, is supported from below. Configured,
The total length of the intermediate guide portion in the transport direction is shorter than the total length of both the first transport portion and the second transport portion in the transport direction.
The intermediate guide portion is arranged in a region in the transport direction between the first transport section and the second transport section in the width direction and includes a connection portion with the support transport device in the conveyor device. It is configured to guide the bottom intermediate portion, which is a portion of the bottom surface between the bottom surface first portion and the bottom surface second portion in the width direction.
The first support surface that supports the bottom surface first portion in the first transport section and the second support surface that supports the bottom surface second portion in the second transport section are arranged on the same reference plane.
The intermediate guide surface for guiding the bottom intermediate portion in the intermediate guide portion is arranged on the reference plane in the connection portion, and tends to move downward from the reference plane as the distance from the connection portion increases in the transport direction. Is inclined to.

Here, the separated side end portion of the intermediate guide surface, which is the end portion farthest from the connecting portion in the transport direction, is supported by the first transport portion and the second transport portion, and the bottom surface intermediate portion is supported. Is preferably arranged below the bottom intermediate portion of the target article in a state of being bent downward with respect to the bottom surface first portion and the bottom surface second portion.

According to this configuration, the bottom intermediate portion of the target article to be conveyed toward the support transport device side to the portion on the connecting portion side of the intermediate guide surface, that is, the portion of the inclined surface on the intermediate guide surface. Will be the first to contact. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately guide the intermediate portion of the bottom surface of the target article in a state of being bent downward.

Further, it is preferable that the intermediate guide portion is configured to transport the target article in the transport direction while supporting the bottom intermediate portion from below.

When the bottom intermediate portion of the target article is in contact with the intermediate guide surface of the intermediate guide portion and is guided in the transport direction, the bottom intermediate portion is pressed by the intermediate guide surface, which hinders the transport of the target article. Orientation resistance can occur. According to this configuration, in addition to the first transport unit and the second transport unit, the intermediate guide unit also transports the article in the transport direction, so that the target article can be transported more smoothly.

Further, when the intermediate guide portion is configured to transport the target article in the transport direction while supporting the bottom intermediate portion from below, the intermediate guide portion is configured to transport the target article in the transport direction.
A pair of rotating bodies in which the first transport unit, the second transport unit, and the intermediate guide portion are arranged apart from each other in the transport direction and rotate around a rotation axis along the width direction. , An endless body wound around the pair of the rotating bodies and arranged along the transport direction.
The conveyor device includes a drive device for driving the first transport section, the second transport section, and the intermediate guide section.
The drive device has a connecting shaft that coaxially connects the rotating bodies arranged at the ends on the connection portion side of the first transport portion, the second transport portion, and the intermediate guide portion, respectively. , It is preferable to include a drive unit that rotationally drives the connecting shaft.

The first support surface, the second support surface, and the intermediate guide surface are arranged on a reference plane at the connecting portion. As a result, the rotating bodies arranged at the ends of the pair of rotating bodies on the connecting portion side in each of the first conveying portion, the second conveying portion, and the intermediate guiding portion are arranged so as to overlap each other in the width direction. It is easy to do. In this configuration, these three rotating bodies are coaxially connected by a connecting shaft by utilizing the relative positions of the rotating bodies of the first transport section, the second transport section, and the intermediate guide section. ..
Therefore, according to this configuration, by rotationally driving the connecting shaft by the drive unit, the first transfer unit, the second transfer unit, and the intermediate guide unit can be driven in synchronization, and such a drive device can be driven. The configuration of can be simplified.

Further, in the conveyor device, the region in the transport direction in which the intermediate guide portion is arranged is defined as the connection side region, and the region farther from the connection portion than the connection side region is defined as the separation side region.
The conveyor device is arranged in the connection side region, a connection side unit in which the first transport portion, the second transport portion, and the intermediate guide portion are connected, and the first transfer side region. It is preferable that the transport unit and the second transport unit are connected to each other so that the unit can be divided into a separate unit.

According to this configuration, an existing conveyor unit without an intermediate guide can be used as the separation side unit. Therefore, the above-mentioned conveyor device can be realized only by replacing a part of the conveyor device configured by arranging the existing conveyor units in the transport direction with a connection-side unit provided with an intermediate guide portion. Therefore, it is possible to realize an article transfer facility capable of satisfactorily transferring the target article from the conveyor device to the support transfer device at a relatively low cost.

Further, the support and transport device is arranged over the entire area of the bottom surface of the target article in the width direction, and includes a plurality of rollers that rotate around a rotation axis along the width direction, and the plurality of rollers are provided. It is preferable that the roller conveyors are arranged side by side in the transport direction.

According to this configuration, the target article can be transported in a state of high flatness by the support transport device. When the flatness of the target article is high, it becomes easy to perform various operations on the target article, such as picking work using a robot and inspection work using image recognition processing.

Further, it is preferable that the intermediate guide portion is a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor, or a roller conveyor.

According to this configuration, the configuration of the intermediate guide portion can be realized by using a known conveyor.
Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

Further, it is preferable that each of the first transport section and the second transport section is a chain conveyor or a belt conveyor.

The chain conveyor and the belt conveyor can convey the target article in a state where the friction with the bottom surface of the target article is larger than that of other conveyors such as the roller conveyor. Therefore, according to this configuration, even in a configuration in which the intermediate guide portion guides the bottom intermediate portion during the transportation of the target article, the target article can be appropriately transported with less slippage.

The technology according to the present disclosure can be used for an article transport facility that transports a target article to be transported along a transport direction.

100: Article transport equipment 1: Conveyor device 11: First transport section 11F: First support surface 112: Chain 12: Second transport section 122: Chain 12F: Second support surface 13: Intermediate guide section 132: Chain 132f: Separation Side end 13F: Intermediate guide surface 14: Drive device 140: Connecting shaft 14 m: Drive unit 2: Support and transfer device 21: Roller 9: Target article 90: Bottom surface 91: Bottom surface 1st part 92: Bottom surface 2nd part 93: Bottom surface Intermediate part FA: Separation side area FU: Separation side unit J: Connection part JA: Connection side area JU: Connection side unit SF: Reference plane X: Transport direction Y: Width direction Y1: Width direction first side Y2: Width direction first 2 sides

Claims

An article transport facility that transports the target article to be transported along the transport direction.
A conveyor device for transporting the target article and
It is provided with a support and transport device which is arranged adjacent to the conveyor device in the transport direction and transports the target article while supporting it in a state where the flatness is higher than that of the conveyor device.
The width direction is defined as the direction orthogonal to the transport direction in a plan view.
The conveyor device includes a first transport section, a second transport section, and an intermediate guide section, each of which is arranged along the transport direction and is spaced apart from each other in the width direction. ,
The side where the first transport unit is arranged with respect to the second transport unit in the width direction is defined as the first side in the width direction, and the opposite side is defined as the second side in the width direction.
The first transport unit is configured to transport the target article in the transport direction with the bottom surface first portion, which is a part of the bottom surface of the target article in the width direction, supported from below.
The second transport unit transports the target article in the transport direction in a state where the bottom surface second portion, which is a portion on the width direction second side of the bottom surface first portion on the bottom surface, is supported from below. Configured,
The total length of the intermediate guide portion in the transport direction is shorter than the total length of both the first transport portion and the second transport portion in the transport direction.
The intermediate guide portion is arranged in a region in the transport direction between the first transport section and the second transport section in the width direction and includes a connection portion with the support transport device in the conveyor device. It is configured to guide the bottom intermediate portion, which is a portion of the bottom surface between the bottom surface first portion and the bottom surface second portion in the width direction.
The first support surface that supports the bottom surface first portion in the first transport section and the second support surface that supports the bottom surface second portion in the second transport section are arranged on the same reference plane.
The intermediate guide surface for guiding the bottom intermediate portion in the intermediate guide portion is arranged on the reference plane in the connection portion, and tends to move downward from the reference plane as the distance from the connection portion increases in the transport direction. Goods transport equipment that is tilted to.
The separated side end portion of the intermediate guide surface, which is the end portion farthest from the connecting portion in the transport direction, is supported by the first transport portion and the second transport portion, and the bottom intermediate portion is the bottom surface. The article transporting equipment according to claim 1, which is arranged below the bottom intermediate portion of the target article in a state of being bent downward with respect to the first portion and the second bottom portion.
The article transport facility according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate guide portion is configured to transport the target article in the transport direction with the bottom intermediate portion supported from below.
A pair of rotating bodies in which the first transport unit, the second transport unit, and the intermediate guide portion are arranged apart from each other in the transport direction and rotate around a rotation axis along the width direction. , An endless body wound around the pair of the rotating bodies and arranged along the transport direction.
The conveyor device includes a drive device for driving the first transport section, the second transport section, and the intermediate guide section.
The drive device has a connecting shaft that coaxially connects the rotating bodies arranged at the ends on the connection portion side of the first transport portion, the second transport portion, and the intermediate guide portion, respectively. The article transport facility according to claim 3, further comprising a drive unit that rotationally drives the connecting shaft.
In the conveyor device, the region in the transport direction in which the intermediate guide portion is arranged is defined as a connecting side region, and the region farther from the connecting portion from the connecting side region is defined as a separating side region.
The conveyor device is arranged in the connection side region, a connection side unit in which the first transport portion, the second transport portion, and the intermediate guide portion are connected, and the first transfer side region. The article transporting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is configured to be separable into a separating side unit in which a transporting unit and the second transporting unit are connected.
The support transport device is arranged over the entire width direction on the bottom surface of the target article, includes a plurality of rollers that rotate around a rotation axis along the width direction, and the plurality of rollers are the transport. The article transporting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is a roller conveyor arranged side by side in a direction.
The article transporting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the intermediate guide portion is a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor, or a roller conveyor.
The article transporting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the first transporting section and the second transporting section is a chain conveyor or a belt conveyor.